MAYOR'S OLYMPIC COSTS U-TURNS ARE DAMAGING PUBLIC SUPPORT

12.39.55pm GMT Tue 6th Feb 2007

Commenting on Ken Livingstone's U-turn today that he now stands by Tessa Jowell's announcement given to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in November that the cost of the Games had overrun by £900m, Liberal Democrat Olympics Spokesperson on the London Assembly, Dee Doocey, said:

"The Mayor's claims about Olympic costs are just empty spin. Four months ago, wearing his populist hat, he dismissed Tessa Jowell's announcement that the Games would cost an extra £900 million and said this was for regeneration. Today he changed his tune yet again and now wants us to believe that Tessa was right all along.

"Unless this drip feed of misinformation stops, Londoners will turn against the whole concept of the Games. The Mayor, the Government and the Olympic authorities must stop squabbling over figures and publish the final budget immediately."